The Nyamwezi of Tanzania
Location and Background: The Nyamwezi tribe (“people of the moon”) is the second largest in Tanzania, living principally south of Lake Victoria in west-central Tanzania. About 30% of Nyamwezi live and work outside of their 35,000 miles of land, in Tanzania’s commercial and agricultural centers.
History: It is believed the Nyamwezi and their related tribe the Sukuma arrived in their present location in the 16th c. Before Europeans arrived, they had an empire consisting of four clans, each descended from one ancestor. Their ancient king, Mirambo, was known to be a brilliant military leader. They were traders, and by 1800 they were involved in trade of copper, wax, ivory, and slaves with Arabs at the coast. Elephant hunting was a prestigious occupation due to the wealth from ivory trade. They also acquired guns and were often involved in intra-tribal wars, and conflicts with the Arabs.
Culture: The nuclear family lives together, and villages are not necessarily based on kinship relationships. Ideally every adult should be married. Various rituals are held for marriage and naming babies, and Westernization has had much influence on how the Nyamwezi function. Children go to the government schools. They are agriculturalists and pastoralists. Goats and sheep are used for sacrifices, and for their meat and skins. Their land is dry woodland, with scarce water, so it is not prime agricultural land. Men work the land, women care for the home.
Religion: The Nyamwezi embrace African Traditional beliefs, Islam and Christianity. They have much respect for their ancestors (the living dead), to whom they offer sacrifices and rely on for their benevolence. Most claim to be Muslims and follow the five pillars of Islam, but in reality they live by their animistic worldview, believing in a creator God, the spirit world, and the importance of using witchdoctors and other diviners to communicate with the spirits. It is reported there are 80,000 Nyamwezi in the Moravian church. The AIC-T has planted a hundred churches in the area but the majority of attenders could be Sukuma, not Nyamwezi. Some say up to 15% of Nyamwezi could be Christian, most of those are Catholic or nominal Christian.
Learn more about the Nyamwezi at Joshua Project or about Tanzania at Operation World.
The Grace of Sabbath Rest
It is rainy season and the Nyamwezi are busy planting their main cash crop of tobacco. Other local farmers are also engaged in planting. There is much to do to plant corn, rice, beans, cassava, peanuts, cabbage, onions, and greens. Every day the land seems to cry out to be a work day- tilling the ground, planting, and weeding. Even Christians may not intentionally pause from their gardens in order to focus on spiritual refreshment and physical rest. Pray that Christians will share God’s plan for a Sabbath rest with their Nyamwezi neighbors, disconnect from their busyness, trust God, and find renewal in fellowship and in worshiping together. May the Nyamwezi find new joy in the grace of God to enter into His rest.
Lacking Leaders
Please pray for a village church outside of Tabora that has a thriving youth group who love to sing in the choir, but there isn’t anyone who is willing to continue to lead the church as elders or deacons, even though members have served in these positions in the recent past. The lay pastor/evangelist would like to hold a congregational vote, but no one is coming to vote or to step forward to serve. Please pray for a renewed call to serve the church and for encouragement for the lay pastor to not be discouraged. Pray that God will raise up those with proven character to be inclined to serve with servant leadership and compassion for the Nyamwezi who do not yet know Jesus.
